Bloomberg: Barclays Probing Theft Of Data From 27,000 Customers

(RTTNews) - UK-based lender Barclays Plc. (BARC.L, BCS) is investigating a possible theft of data from about 27,000 customers, reports said. The bank is talking to regulators and customers about a possible leak of information related to client accounts.

The investigation suggests that data from 2008 or earlier may have been leaked. It is linked to a financial-planning unit which closed down in 2011.

Customer files containing personal and financial data were stolen and the information, such as income, savings and insurance policies, were sold to brokers to be used for investment scams.

According to the Mail on Sunday, a whistle-blower gave it a memory stick containing files on 2,000 customers, stating that each of the 27,000 files could be sold for around 50 pounds.

Each file is said to have about 20 pages. The customers include doctors, business executives, scientists, a musician and a cleaner. The whistle-blower became aware of the files in September, when he was asked by a brokerage firm to sell them to other traders.

BARC.L closed up 0.7 percent on Friday at 271.70 pence.